City Manager Releases Windstorm Cleanup Announcement

Interim City Manager Sergio Gonzalez issued an announcement Wednesday regarding windstorm recovery and cleanup efforts. 

Below is the full press release via the City of South Pasadena:

Interim City Manager Sergio Gonzalez made an announcement about recovery and cleanup efforts in the aftermath of the windstorms. 

“We were very lucky not to have suffered any significant injuries, and more importantly, fatalities, as a result of the recent windstorms,” he said. “I’m proud of how our staff performed during the emergency, and I am confident that our residents were very well served. However, we will certainly do an assessment to guage what we did well, and more importantly, what we could have done better in terms of preparation, execution, communication and coordination." 

Although the incident has passed, residents are easily reminded of the event with the residual debris. While city crews are working every day to help clean up the city, it is going to take time—the city estimates 6-8 weeks at the minimum.

More than 200 truckloads of green material have already been hauled away. The City has brought in additional temporary staffing, increased its contract with West Coast Arborist, and assigned two full-time City Arborists the task of canvassing the entire city. 

Last week the City Council approved a motion to reduce the cost to residents who clean up their own property. The City has suspended its collection of encroachment fees for rental of large bins for windstorm-related green waste disposal until January 31, 2012. 

Athens Services, the City’s contracted waste hauler, will also provide a discount on oversized green waste bin rentals. Athens has set up a toll free number (888) 996-6100 to access a special rate for South Pasadena residents. 

“It’s going to take some time to get our city back in order, but if we all do our part, we will get there faster,” said Gonzalez.  

Questions regarding green bin rentals and clean up should be directed to the Public Works Department at (626) 403-7240, Gonzalez said.